Means eor lubricating steebinq knuckles and other parts of vehicles



Nov. 6, 1923.

F; H. GLEASON MEANS FOR LUBRIC ATING STEEJRZNG KNUCKLES AND OTHER PARTS OF VEHICLES Original Filed Jan. 18. 1921 TOR ATTO NETS.

Knuckles and Other Parts of drawings formin Reiaaued Nov. 6, 1923.

UNITED STFATESVPATENT OFFICE.

rnannarcx n. emson, or aunm, new You.

HEARS FOB LUBBICATING STEERING- KNUCILES AND OTHER PARTS OF VEHICLE.

Original Io. 1,888,945, dated To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. GLEASON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of. Auburn, in the county of Cayuga, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Lubricatin Steering ehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my inventlon is to provide means to lubricate the joints of knuckles of the steering wheels as well as the joints of the tie-rods between the knuckles of such Wheels or the drag link joints or bearings, or other similar parts in automobiles or motor vehicles from a single supply of lubricant to each knuckle.-

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide the bolt of the steering knuckle with a bore to receive lubricant and' passa from the bore to an ply the bearings o the knuckle or the b0 t and a conduit or conduits to be supplied with lubricant from the first-named bore, and in communication with the bearing of the tie-rod or of the drag link or similar part that is mnnectedfwith an arm of the uckle. My invention also comprises novel details of improvement that will be more fully hem- .inafter set forth and'then pointed out in the.

claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying part hereof, wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of a rtion of a steering knuckle of an automobile or motor vehicle embodying my, invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 in Fi re 1. igure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of a diflerent. form of steering knuckle embodying my invention.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 in Figure 4. i Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 in Figure 5;

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views. The numeral 1- indicates a portion of he frontaxle ,of an automobile or motor vehicle and indicates the steering knuckle 'pivotally connected with said axleand provided with the shaft or spindle 3-'.for

August 30, 1881, Serial Io. 488,0, filed January 18, 1921. relaaue filed Ia 17, 1928. Ierlal Io. 839,682.

the wheel bearing-which parts maybe of Application for usual or suitable construction. In the form shown in Figure 1 the axle is provided with hearing 1 receivin bolt 4, which bolt is secured to said hearing as by means of a pin 5, or in other desired manner, whereby the bolt is stationary and the forked or yoke-like portion 2'. of the steering knuckle receives the bearing 1' and is journaled on bolt 4.to rotate relatively to the latter as sustained by thebearing 1'. I

Bolt 4- is shown provided with a head at one end and with a nut 4 at the other end on opposite sides of the yoke of the knuckle, in Figures 1 and 2, and corres ndingly arranged with respect to the yoke or fork of the axle, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Bolt 4 is provided with a longitudinal bore -6 to which a fitting -7 is attached, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, for a su ply of lubricantfrom the fittin to said re. Said fitting is shown in the firm of an elbow connected by nut .8 to a flexible tube 9, which may be connected to any suitable supply source of lubricant. Bolt 4' is provided with transverse passages 4' for the upper bearin and transverse passageset" for the lower ring, vertical grooves 4 being provided in the bolt at said bearings to receive lubricant from passages 4' and 4". The arm 10- that projects from the steering knuckle for connection with the tie-rod or drag link --11 is provided with a bolt or pin --12 to connect said parts, which boltor pin is shown provided with a head at one endand with a nut -1Z at the other end in the usual manner. In the form shown in Figures 2 and 3 the bolt 12- is to tie-rod 11- by in 40- so thatthe bolt rotates in the ring at the end of arm *10, whereas in Figures 5 and 6 the bolt --12 is free from the tie-rod and the latter roatles onbearing -14- relatively to said An object of my invention is to convey lubricant from the bore of bolt 6- to the bearing of tie-rod 11- on arm --10-. In the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, since the knuckle rotates relatively to the steering bolt 51, I provide a conduit or tube 15. that connects the jaw 2' of knuckle .2' to the bearing 14- of arm 10 so that all of said parts will move together. I have shown the-lower. jaw 2' provided witha port 2' communicating with tolubricate the bearings for the a' fitting 16 connected with the tube 15', said tube being shown connected by fitting -l7, shown in the form of an elbow, with bearing 14- at which said fitting is attached. Bushing -18 in hearing 14- is provided with a port l8" communicating with a transverse bore 12' in bolt 12, said bolt being shown provided'with grooves 12 communicating with bore 12 to supply both sides of the bolt with lubricant.

In the form shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 where bolt 4 rotates with knuckle 2 and is secured thereto by pin 5 and tie-rod -11 rotates upon pin 12-, the fitting 16 is attached to the knuckle -2 and communicates with a side bore 6 that communicates wlth bore 6 in bolt --4-, the

fitting 17 being attached to bolt -12-' at the top, the tube 15 connecting fittings 16 and -17-. Bolt 12 is shown provided with a longitudinal bore 12'! communicating with fitting 17' and with transvem bores 12' communicating with bore 12 and leading to the exterior of the bolt to supply the bearings at the fork or yoke 11 of thetie rod. In this construction, the bolt 12 rigidly carried b the arm -10- constitutes a portion of. t e bearing carried by said arm.

Since, in the last named fi ures, bolt 4 rotates with respect to the for or yoke of axle 1-- the fitting 7 that is connected with flexible tubing -'9 is at.

tached to the upper jaw 1 of said yoke or fork and communicates with. bore d of bolt 4. I c

In accordance with my invention, lubricant may be supplied through tube -9- to bolt -4- from any suitable source, whether under pressure or by gravity, and such lubricant will not only lubricate bearings of the bolt, knuckle, and axle, but will be su lied through tube or conduit 15 tot e arings of the tie-rod, drag line or other bearing moving rigidly with the steering knuckle or equivalent part. Since the parts -15, --16 and -17- move as a unit with arm --10- it will be apparent that in all. positions of the knuckles the tic-rod bearings connected therewith will receive lubricant necessary to supply said bolt with lubricant knuckle and the bearings for the tie-rod. Similar construction may be provided on each side of the vehicle.-

While I have not set forth any particular b means to supply lubricant to the bearings through tube 9--, the same may be supplied under pressure or by gravity by means set forth in mycompanion application filed herewith, wherein I have disclosed a lubrieating system for an automobile chassis suplied with lubricant from the same pump from bolt -4- so that it is only I that supplies the bearings of the motor of the vehicle under pressure.

' Having now described my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. The combination of an axle, a steering knuckle, a bolt pivotally connectin the same, an arm extending from the kuuc le, a tie-rod, a bolt pivotally'connecting the tierod and arm, means to supply the first named bolt with lubricant, and a conduit communicating with the bearings of the first and second named bolts to convey lubricant {)rgm the first named to the second named 2. The ombination of an axle, a steering knuckle, a bolt pivotally connecting the same, an arm extending from the knuckle, a tie-rod, a bolt pivotally connecting the tie-rodand arm, said bolt having a bore and passages to sup ly lubricant to the bear-- ings thereof, an a conduit communicating with said bore and with the bearings of the bolt of the tie-rod.

3. The combination of an axle, a steering knuckle, a bolt pivotallly connecting the same, an arm extending from the knuckle, a tie-rod, a bolt pivotally connecting the tie-rod and arm, a fitting connected to one of the first-named parts, aifittin connected to one of the tie-rod parts, an a conduit connecting said fittings to supply lubricant from the first named bolt. to the second named bolt.

4. The combination of knuckle, a bolt ivotally, connecting the same and provide with a bore communicating with its exterior, a'supply fitting communicating with said bore, said knuckle having an arm, a tie-rod, a bolt pivotally connecting the arm and a tie-rod, a fitting communicating with said bolt, and-a conduit connectingv said fittings.

5. The combmation of an axle,a steering knuckle, a bolt pivotall connecting the same and provided with, a bore communicating an axle, a steering with its exterior," a supply fitting connected ing with its exterior, a supply fitting com-- municating with said bore, said knuckle having an arm, a tie-rod, a bolt pivotally connecting the arm and tie-rod, said arm havin afitting communicating with lastname bolt, and a conduit connecting said fittin upper and lower bearings for said bolt, an arm rigidly carried either by said bearing an ipl mratus of the class described, a ste'ering knuckle bolt, rigidly connected Ill) I cant to the up or by said bolt, a bearing carried by said arm, a s' le fitting connected to the upper end of bolt and adapted to feed lubrir bearing for said bolt, to the lower bearing for said bolt andjto the bearing carried by said arm.'

8. In an apparatus of'the class described, a steerin knuckle bolt, ri 'dl'y connected upper an lower bearings or said bolt, an

arm rigidly carried either by said hearing or by said bolt, a bearing carried by said arm, a single fitting connected either to said bolt or one of the n idl connected bearings and adapted to fee In ricant to the upper bearing for said bolt, to the lower bearing for said bolt and to the bearing carried by said am.

9. The combination with a shaft having a longitudinal passageway and a bearing for the shaft, of an arm extending from one of said elements and moving rigidly in unison with the element, a'bearin carried by said arm, means for supglying lubricant to the shaft geway, an means for conveying lubricant from the shaft passageway and .supplying'it to the bearing carried by said arm.

10. The combination with a shaft having. a longitudinal passageway and a bearing for the shaft, of an arm extending from one 80 of said elements and rigidly moving in unison with the element, a bearing carried by said am and a single fitting connected to supply lubricant to t e shaft passageway, o the beari-n for the shaft and to the bearing carried y said arm.

11. The combination with a shaft and a bearing for the shaft of an arm extending from one of said elements-and rigidly moving in unison with the element, a bearing 40 FRED H. GLEASON.

the resence of- E: M.' 

